Sheath cutting apparatus



July 6, 1937. E. WENSLEY I SHEATH CUTTING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 10, 1936 FIG.

Patented July 6, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

SHEATH CUTTIN G APPARATUS Application October 10, 1936, Serial No. 104,996

' j.f,,9 Claims. (01. 164 34) This invention relates to sheath cutting apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus for preparing a sheath for removal from a core.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple and efiicient apparatus for quickly cutting a sheath torender it readily removable from an article."

In accordance with one embodiment as applied to an apparatus for cutting a sheath of insulating material of an electrical conducor into sections prior to its removal from the conductor, there is provided a clamping means whereby a sheathed conductor while held in a predetermined position against longitudinal movement may be rotated, and while being rotated a vertically movable knife is moved into engagement with the sheath on the conductor to make a circular cut therein to disconnect the portion of the insulating sheath which is to be removed from the remainder of the sheath. A pair of horizontally -movable knives are provided which through a'toggle may be simultaneously moved into engagement with diametrically opposed portions of 'the sheath to cause the sheath to be cut into two separate parts as it is withdrawnfrom the device. After the portion of the sheath of a conductor which is to be removed has thus been separated from the remainder of the sheath and has been cut'longitudinally into'two separate'parts, it may be easily 30 removed from the conductor.

" A'better understanding of theinvention may be had by reference to the following specification when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein a I 'Fig. 1 is a plan view of apparatus embodying the invention; a

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows; a V

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows; Y I

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail view takenalong the line fi4 of Fig.2 in the direction of the arrows showing the cord clamping means, and Fig. .5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows. Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference numerals designate the same parts throughout the several views, the numeral l0 indicates generally a base'having a groove ll :formed therein and having a superimposed guide member 12 secured to the left endthereof (Figs.

- 1 -andi2)..' Formed in thebase IUY-and guide.

member l2 are a pair of cooperating grooves 13 and M which form a bearing for a tubular member I5, the groove l3 being in alignment with the groove H. The tubular member l5 has a collar 16 on the right end thereof (Figs. 1 and 2) and a I! is semicylindrical, one-half thereof being cut away, as shown at 2|. tubularmember I 5 has secured thereto a member 22 of a clamping device which comprises-the memberZZand a member 23 hinged to the memer 22 at 24. Formed on the member 23 area plurality of teeth 25 adapted to engage arubber covered. electrical conductor part of the rubber sheath of which-is to be removed, from the con' .ductor. The upper. end (Fig. 4) of the member. Z3

is provided with ahandle 26 whereby the member :23 maybe moved to the left (Fig.4) about its" hinge 24 to clamp the conductor against theeX- tension 20; Continued movement ofthe member 23 to the left (Fig. Q) will result the rotation of the tubular member l5 and the conductor clamped therein bythe teeth25 will also. be rotated. The conductor, the sheathing of which is to be removed, may be, inserted through the tubular member l5. p

Mounted upon the right end of the guide member 12 is a supporting'plateBfl having a knife support 31 pivoted thereon at 32, The knife support 3| has cooperating therewith a knife retaining plate 33 by means of which a suitable by the knife support and the knife blade. held therein may be moved into engagement with the sheath of a conductor which has beeninserted 7 through the tubular member. l5.

' l2. The limit screw 31 may be adjusted to regulate the amountof movementof the knife 34 so that the'kn'i'fe will be moved into and'through' Theportion 20 of, the

knife blade34 may be securedto the knife support, jnut and bolt assemblies 35 being provided ,"for securing the retaining plate and knife blade to the knife support. Formed integrally with the knife support 3! isfan operating handle 36,-where.-

the sheath of the conductor, but willnot engage and damage the core.

Positioned in the groove II is a guide tube 50 for holding the end of the covered conductor which is to be stripped in the groove during the stripping operation. This tube 50 is provided with an aperture 49 through which the conductor tobe stripped may be seen and is slotted on diametrically opposite surfaces thereof as shown at (Figs. 2 and 3) to permit knives 52 and 53 to be moved into engagement with the sheath of the conductor positioned in the tube. 52 and 53 are mounted in knife supports 54 and 55, being secured in a place in the supports by means of nut and bolt assemblies 5656. The knife supports 54 and 55 are similar to the knife support 33 and are pivoted to the base ID at 51 and 58, respectively. Mounted on-the base are a:pair of limit screws 59 and 65 similar to the limit screw 3'! for limiting the amount of movement of. the knivesv 52 and 53.. These limit screws59i'and Ellengage the knife supports 54 and 55, respectively, and may be adjusted to permit the knives to cut the sheathand toprevent them from. damaging the core. V

The right ends (Figs. 1 and 2) of the knife supports 54 and 55 have toggle links BI and B2 pivotedthereto at 63 and 64, respectively, and the right endsv (Figs. 1 and 2) of the toggle links BI- and 62 are pivoted to a slidable yoke 65. at 56 and 61. The yoke 65' is slidably mounted upon a tubular member 68 suitably mounted in the groove. H, and has an actuating lever 69 pivoted thereto at H1. The actuatingv lever 69 is oscillatable abouta pin 1 I. secured to the base l0, and

.when the actuating lever 69 is operated by its handle 12, it will cause the left hand ends of the knives .52 and 53 to be moved into or out of engagement with the sheath of a conductor positioned in the apparatus. I

When the hereinbefore described device is used for stripping rubber insulation .from'ja core of copper wire, the rubber covered'wirefmay be inserted through the tubular member. I 5, guide'tube 5B and tubular member 68 a predetermined distance as determined by the amount of insulation Vitis desired to remove from the wire. Stopsof any conventional type may be provided in' the groove ll against which the end of the covered wire may be moved if it is desired to. cut the sameamountof insulation from a large number of.wires. After. thewire. has thus. been inserted through the tubular member I5,1 guide tube 50 and tubular member 68,.the. handle,.26 may be moved to the left (Fig. 4) to clamp the cord between the. member 22 of the clampingv device and the member 23., whereupon the left end of .the. handle. 36. may be. raised (Fig... 8) to move the knife blade 34 into engagement with the insulating material of the cord and while. the knife is pressed downwardly the clamping device may be rotated by a continued. movement of. the handle 26 to make a circular out. through the insulation on the wire, the limit screw 3'! having been adjusted to permit the knife to move downwardl'y to such anextent as to cut through the insulation without damaging the wire. After the pieceof sheath or insulati'onto be removed has been severed from the remainder of the sheath by the operation of the knife 34 and clamping device, the knife 34 maybe moved to inoperative position by lowering the left end (Fig;. 3) of the handle 36 and; thevlever' 69-maybe rocked about its pivot H ina counterclockwisedirection. to force the knives:=52 and? 53 through-theinsulation on the The knives tion has been described, it will be understood that the device is subject to many modifications without departing from the scope of the appended claims. I

What is claimed is:

V 1. A sheath cutting apparatus comprising means for rotating a sheathed core, a cutting .member movable to'cut a section of the sheath from the remainder of the sheath, and cooperating cutting members for cutting the section of .sheath in two elongated .parts.

2. A sheath cutting apparatus comprising means for rotating a. sheathed core, a cutting member movableinto engagement with the sheath while it is being rotated to out a section of the sheath from the remainder of the sheath, and cooperatingcutting members for cutting the section of sheath. in twoelongatedparts;

3. A sheath cutting apparatus comprising means for rotating a sheath core, means movable into engagement with the sheath of the core duringits rotation for cutting the sheath circularly, and ,means operable during the withdrawal of the sheathed. core fromv the apparatus for cutting the sheath into'two elongated strips. V

4. A sheath 7 cutting apparatus comprisin means for rotatinga sheathed core, means movable at right; angles to the axis of rotation of the core forsevering a section of the sheath from the remainder of the sheath, and means'movable into engagement with the sheath at diametricallyopposed points for cutting the section of the sheathgwhich is to 'be-removed into two sepa-.

.rate parts. l

5. A sheath cutting apparatus comprising a series of; tubular members through which a sheathed core may be inserted, meansfor rotating one of said tubular members, aclamping device mounted 1 on the rotatable tubular member for clamping the sheathed core thereto during the.

rotation thereof, a cutting meansassociated with the. rotatable member for forming a-circular cut through thesheath during the rotation of the sheathed core, and meansfor cutting a portion ofthesheath into two separate parts during the withdrawal of the sheathed core from the apparatusy 7 6. l lsheath; cutting apparatus comprising a series of tubular members through which a sheathed core maybe inserted,.means for rotating one ofsaid tubular members,- a; clamping device mounted on the rotatable tubular member for clamping. the sheathed core thereto during the rotation thereof, a-cutting means associated with the rotatable member for forminga circular cutthrough. the sheath during the rotation of the sheathed core, and a pair of cutting members movable into engagement with the sheath at diametriically opposed surfaces thereof for cutting the. sheath into two separate parts during its:

removal from the apparatus.

7.'A-; sheath cuttingapparatus comprising a series of. tubular members through which a sheathed-coresmay be inserted; means for rotating-one of saidtubular members. a clamping" d'evice mounted on the rotatable tubular member for clamping the sheathed core thereto during the rotation thereof, a cutting means associated with the rotatable member for forming a circular out through the sheath during the rotation of the sheathed core, and a pair of cutting members movable into engagement with the sheath at diametrically opposed surfaces thereof for cutting the sheath into two separate parts during its removal from the apparatus comprising a member slidable upon one of the tubular members and,

having toggle levers interconnecting it with the cutting members to move the cutting members into engagement with the sheath.

8. In a sheath cutting apparatus, the combination with means for severing a section of sheath from the remainder of the sheath, of a pair of diametrically opposed knives, means for pivotally supporting said knives whereby they may be moved into engagement with the sheath, actuating means for said pivotal supports comprising a support member through which the sheath to be cut may extend, a yoke slidably positioned on said tubular member, linkage members interconnecting said yoke with the knife supports, and an actuating lever for operating said yoke.

9. A sheath cutting apparatus comprising a base, a tubular member rotatable in said base for receiving a sheathed core, means for clamping said sheathed core in the rotatable tubular member, means movable into engagement with the core for cutting through the sheath during the rotation of the tubular member, an actuating lever mounted upon said base, and a pair of cutting members actuatable by said actuating member for forming cuts in the sheath in the direction of its length during the withdrawal of the sheath from the apparatus.

EARL WENSLEY. 

